Role of Nutrition in Sports

Abstract

Nutrition plays a pivotal role in sports performance and athlete well-being. The connection between what athletes eat and their physical and mental capabilities is well-established, making nutrition a cornerstone of modern sports science. This research paper delves into the multifaceted role of nutrition in sports, with a focus on its impact on athletic performance, recovery, and overall health. Athletes have been encouraged to eat diets high in carbohydrate, but low-carbohydrate diets up-regulate the capacity of muscle for fat oxidation, potentially sparing the limited carbohydrate stores. Such diets, however, do not enhance endurance performance. It is not yet known whether the increased capacity for fat oxidation that results from training in a carbohydrate-deficient state can promote loss of body fat. Preventing excessive fluid deficits will maintain exercise capacity, and ensuring adequate hydration status can also reduce subjective perception of effort. This latter effect may be important in encouraging exercise participation and promoting adherence to exercise programmes. Dietary supplement use is popular in sport, and a few supplements may improve performance in specific exercise tasks. Athletes must be cautious, however, not to contravene the doping regulations.